Public Forum: Leininger honest, hard working

Tuesday

Oct 17, 2006 at 1:00 AM

Sharon Stitzlein

I have known John Leininger for many years. He always has been honest and hard working.John has been a dairy farmer and a grain farmer and has always taken very good care of his land. He has run a business successfully and has served on several boards in the county. These qualities and past experience make him an excellent candidate for county commissioner.John and his wife, Eleanor, have been very good friends, always willing to help in any way they can. I shall be voting for john Leininger for county commissioner.Alice J. RickettAshlandGroup eyes improved schools, decreased costsThis letter is in response to, and an attempt to clarify, statements made in the Times-Gazette (Oct. 5) regarding the Mapleton Manifesto. This was a draft report made in response to a request of the executive committee of the Concerned Citizens for Better Education at Mapleton Schools (CC-BEAMS). The major concern of the members is the inadequacy of the educational system in the Mapleton district. CC-BEAMS is a community organization, and not a political action committee, but will likely establish PAC as one of a number of activities.The majority of the members oppose the upcoming emergency levy votes. In general, they feel that additional money only will perpetuate a failed education system. At this time, the major focus of the group is to replace what we now have with a new system that meets community, state and national needs. Committees will be formed to review and try to change school policies regarding academic programs, facilities, faculty, administration, textbook selection, employment criteria and teacher unionization.The Manifesto serves only as a starting point, and I expect considerable revision by the executive committee and the membership in general. It also notes that as Ohio funding has increased on a per-student basis, the education outcome has deteriorated (as is true in all of the state). Today, Ohio has the third highest expenditure per student among the 50 states, but is 49th in education delivered as measured by national college entrance examination scores.The Times-Gazette notes the Mapleton superintendent has read the Manifesto and agrees it addresses education issues. She then indicates it is the fault of Ohio state mandates. That is quite correct in some areas, such as the state ordering periodic testing of students. However, please note the state does not mandate kindergarten, 15-to-1 student/teacher ratios (but does suggest class sizes of 25 students), supplement contracts for teachers engaged in non-educational activities, classroom computers (which have no educational value below the 11th grade), hiring a computer repair technician, paying a coach to handle a one-student-only sports, outdoor sodium lights (supposedly 88 of them, to be left on overnight) and other costly activities.The Manifesto suggests methods of enhancing education while reducing expenses. The net result over time would be a lowering of property taxes.The superintendent also tells us the Mapleton district cant be the lone district that bucks the state. I disagree. It is noted that many Mapleton residents have bucked the district by home schooling or sending their children to schools outside the district.Improving the educational system in Ohio has not, and likely will not, be done by the federal government, state government, local boards of education, school administrators or teachers and their entrenched unions. It will be done by an aroused citizenry. If Mapleton has to be the first to do it in Ohio so be it. Many of us are not cowed by the powers that be, any more than were our ancestors. The people thats us are the boss and can by our joint actions and votes return the education process to local community control.Nate Cardarelli, member ofCC-BEAMS executive committeeAshland